The National tribune., 1887-11-03

the forward movement was made by Sherman,
Kilpatrick leading the advance. under Gen.
Hooker. After some unimportant brushes with
the enemy at Taylor's Ridge, Buzz1rd's Roost
and Snake Creek Gap. the outskirts of the town
Of Resaca were reached, and here q most deter
mined stand was made by the Confederates,
and they only gave way and fell back
AFTER FIERCE ENGAGEMENT,
in which both sides sustained great loss. In
this battle much hard fighting was done by the
cavalry under Fitzpatrick, the Second Brigade,
under Col. C. c. Smith, of the 10th Ohio Cav,
taking prominent part; saber charges, kilpat-
rick's fayorite mode Of fighting his cavalry,
being the order Of the day.
In one of these charges against a superior
force of rebel infantry Fitzpatrick, at the head
OF brigade, received his second battle scar,
riile-ball striking him in the groin and intict-
ing a painful aud serious wound; from the
effects Of this wound he never, / believe, fully
recovered. This misfortune obliged him TO 20
TO rear for treatment, but before his wound
healed. and before he had recovered the use of
his limb, he returned to the front and resumed
the command OF his troops at CaTtersvilie, Ga.
Owing, however, to his crippled condition, he
was unable TO ride on horseback for some time,
and had, therefore, TO use carriage, but he
was in the saddle again when active operations
were resumed. Advancing to SandtOwn, he
there organized an expedition to get in the rear
of JOhnSton's army. His force consisted of two
divisions of cavalry and eight pieces of artil-
leTy-in all about 1000 men. After doing
much damage TO the Atlanta & Macon Rail-
road, Fitzpatrick moved in the direction Of
McDonough, at which place he intended to tear
up the railroad track.
But at LovejOy's Station he fell into a trap
which had been set for him-a vastly superior
force of the enemy having completely sur
rounded and hedgcd Kim in before he was
aware of their presence. For time the capt
ure of Kilpatrick's entire command seemed in
evitable. In this crisis Fitzpatrick acted with
his usual courage and promptitude. He massed
his troops in six columns, shouted,
"DRAw sABER, CHARGED"
and spurring their steeds into gsllop, these
gallant cavalrymen, with defiant shout and
yell, soon reached and as soon surmounted the
rebel barricades, the forces behind the works
retreating in disorder. Four pieces of artillery,
three battlehags, and large number of pris-
oners were taken by Fitzpatrick in this charge,
and so completely demoraized were the enemy
that Fitzpatrick was permitted to return to
camp without further molestatiOn from them.
The information obtained by Fitzpatrick on
this raid was of important service to Sherman
in the great flank movement made by him
shortly afterwards, and which enabled our
troops TO enter and hold Atlanta.
Soon after the capture OF Atlanta prepara-
tions were made for the march 10 the sea"
800 miles through the heart of the enemy's
country. On the morning of Nov. Ia, 1854,
Fitzpatrick broke up his camp at Marietta and
that night reached Atlanta, when he reported
at once TO Sherman and received his instruc-
tions as to the first movements to be made by
the cavalry
on THE GREAT MARCH.
cavalry and one battery, resumed the march,
and, leaving Atlanta in the rear, soon reached
and crossed Flint River and took possession of
Jonesboro'.
During the 35 days that interviewed from this
time until the capture of Savannah, Dec. 81
scarcely day, and, indeed, not many nights,
passed without Kilpatrick's command having
one or more engagements with the enemy s
cavalry under the ubiquitous and daring Con-
federate cavalryman,3 Wheeler, who did his
utmost TO impede the progress of Sherman's
invineible army. But vain endeavorl The
course of the mighty Father of Waters could
as easily have been checked as the march of
these intrepid veterans. With proud and rapid
stride the main army onward marched, keep
ing pace TO the music of fife and drum, mother
earth herself resounding to their solid, regular
tread; and joyfully, enthusiastically they
marched, making the weikin ring with shout
and song; "Sherman's March to the Sea and
John Browns Body" being the favorite airs
of this seaward-bound host, these gallant boys
in blue.
This hilarity, however was confined for the
most part TO the infantry and that unique con-
tingent known as
THE "BUMMhR CORPS"
but was not shared to any appreciable extent
by Fitzpatrick and his cavalry. upon whom, as
i have already observed. devOlved the serious
business OF the campaign. Now in advance. or
on the fianks accommodating; now in the rear
protecting the supply trains from the frequent
attempts made by Wheeler to capture and de-
stroy them-but not wagon or mule fell into
his hands.
TO describe all these numerous cavalry fights
would be both tedious and uninteresting, and
will, therefore, only call attention to the splen-
did saber charge OF the 10th Ohio over the rebel
breastworks at Macon, Ga, on which place
| Fitzpatrick was ordered to make feint; the
| lively fights at Grswold Station and near Mil
ledgeville, then the Capital Of the State-the
approach of Kilpatrick's cavalry OH the latter
place causing the precipitate and uneeremOni-
Gus adjournment of the Legislature. Mention
| should also be made of the energetic but unsuc-
cesslul effort made by Fitzpatrick to rescue the
Union prisoners at Millen. Their recent re,
moval 20 Charleston only prevented the con,
i summation of this mueh-desiTed purpose.
ferred TO, as, besides being the last of series o
brilliant engagements on this march, il wa:
! also the most important One-a regular pitched
battle between the opposing cavalry forces
| Mheeler's force
GREATLY oUTNUMBERED
/ that OF Fitzpatrick, but this advantage was per
haps more than counterbalanced by the create
efficiency of the Union troops. strip for tn,
fight" ordered Fitzpatrick, and early in th,
morning he moved toward Waynesboro, wher
Wheeler was strongly intrenched behind bar
Ticades. The first attempt TO dislOdge tn
enemy was repulsed, but the second was sue
cessful. The 92d Ill. M'td Inf, armed will
Spencer repeating rifles-a most awe-inspirin,
weapOn-dismOunted, and, leaving their horse
! In the rear advanced on foot and made for tn
barricadcs on the double quick. At the sam,
time the 10th Ohio and 9th Mich Cav, in col
umns of four battaliOns, were sent around oil
the right flank TO charge with sabers, the 9tl
Ohio TO charge on the left flank in the sam
manner. The lst Wis. battery, under Capt
Beebe, got into position and stood ready 70
action. The notes of the bugles sounding tn
charge had scarcely died away ere the contend
ing forces were in deadly conflict and for tn
space of at least an hour the battle ragged mos
terrifcally.
At length, however, the enemy being unabl
longer 10 hold out against the Spencer rifle
and saber charges retreated from the barri
cades and, falling back short distance, ther
REFORMED FOR ANOTHER STRUGGLE.
Up 10 this time only the second brigade of Xii
patrick's troops had been engaged, the rest q
the command, through some unforeseen ciTcum
stance, being delayedl and not as yet arrives